Historic American Barns

America’s Historic Barns: Icons of Agricultural Innovation

A Glimpse Into America’s Agricultural Past America’s rural landscape is dotted with barns of all shapes and sizes—each one telling a story of innovation, hard work, and agricultural progress. These structures are more than just buildings; they are enduring symbols of the nation’s farming heritage. From traditional rectangular barns to uniquely engineered round designs, many of these historic structures still …

Forest Service

Deputy Secretary Vaden Shares Details on Forest Service Relocation Efforts

With the recent announcement of the relocation of the US Forest Service Headquarters to Salt Lake City and operational service centers in various locations across the country, we caught up with USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden to learn what forestry professionals can expect from this reorganization. Deputy Secretary Vaden said, “Well, what they can expect is a lot more focus …

peanut stocks

More Details on February Peanut Stocks and Processing Report

USDA issues stocks and processes for peanuts each month. More details has been announced now on the month of February. Shell peanuts on a raw basis used in primary products and in-shell also was accounted in this report. Peanut usage is improving. Total edible use for seven months is up four-tenths of one percent with major improvements in peanuts and snacks. For the seven-month …

domestic

USDA On Time And Budget For Construction of New World Screwworm Domestic Fly Production Facility

The USDA is headlong into the construction of a domestic sterile fly production facility in Texas and we caught up with USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden to get an update on the department’s efforts. Deputy Secretary Vaden said, “So we are on track and on time with regard to that, and even more exciting, with regard to the New World Screwworm, …

Orion Samuelson

Remembering Orion Samuelson

I’m traveling today, sending this as I drive to Huntley, Illinois, and the visitation for farm broadcaster, Orion Samuelson. Orion would have turned 91 just before Easter, and he would have wanted all farm broadcasters to proceed as normal today and not putting him in the spotlight. Well, sorry to disappoint, Orion, but you were anything but normal for your 60 years on the …

corn harvesting

From Hand-Husking to Horse Power: The Evolution of Corn Harvesting

The Labor of Early Corn Harvesting Coming up on This Land of Ours, it’s the daily Ag History Minute. Mark Oppold brings us a glimpse into the demanding realities of early American agriculture—specifically, the challenge of harvesting corn. Growing corn has long been a cornerstone of American farming, but historically, harvesting it was an entirely different story. Before modern machinery …

corn

Average Planting Dates For Corn Coming Up Soon

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planting progress

USDA Shares Corn and Cotton Planting Progress for the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released details on the planting progress for both corn and cotton so far this season. USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey provides an overview on the planting progress for cotton, “In a lot of years, we only see planting progress this early in a couple of states, and Arizona is one of those. They lead the nation, …

planting

Planting Concerns For Growers

It’s about planting time across the southeast, but a major problem for farmers, a three-month drought, has really got the farmers waiting to decide when to plant, how much to plant, and markets are changing. The war in Iran is creating some big issues, not only on the price of fertilizer, but on freight rates and fuel surcharges, and counting increases in energy costs …

five-year

Five-Year Fertilizer Duty Review is Underway

A five-year review of countervailing duties on phosphate imports from Morocco and Russia is underway. Agri-Pulse reported that fertilizer producers Mosaic and Simplot say they’re in favor of keeping the duties in place. The tariffs range from 16.6 percent to over 47 percent, and have been in place since 2021 when Mosaic filed a countervailing duty case. The Commerce Department’s …